Designers from Freeman Christie spotted this bewildering list of charges in an Oxford car park. But, instead of just moaning about the sign, they designed a better one

“We’re based just outside Oxford,” explains the studio’s Mark McArthur-Christie. “One of the first places tourists ‘touch’ the city is through its car parks, and the signage is truly awful [see below].”

“So,” says McArthur-Christie, “off our own bats, we started working on a new sign that would do a better job.” The result is below

Earlier this week, the studio organised some PR around their idea with local press and radio stations. “It seems the City Council is pleased with what we’ve done – we have a meeting with them next week to talk copy and design for new signs,” McArthur-Christie says.

The studio has also started an online campaign to promote better public signage. At Design for Clarity they “have started redesigning and re-writing public space signage to make it more elegant, clearer and less dull and grey.”

Image by Shinichi Maruyama of Morgan Lockyer, one of the photographers whose work will be on show at Portfolios
CR and the Creative Handbook have launched a new event for all art directors, designers, creative directors, art buyers and everyone involved in commissioning photography and illustration. Portfolios is free to attend and takes place on the 9 – 10 June at the Central Hall Westminster, London SW1